Texas Tech’s Rawls College of Business Honors Distinguished Alumni

The Texas Tech University Rawls College of Business honored three distinguished alumni March 31 at the Overton Hotel and Conference Center. Recipients included Alan D. Brown, Mark M. Johnson and Robert Taylor.

Brown is managing director and principal at Sowell & Co. and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in banking in 1969. A native of Grand Prairie, he received an MBA from Darden Business School in 1971 and an honorable discharge from the U.S. Army. He began his corporate banking career as a management trainee with First National Bank in Dallas. Currently chairman of Sergeant’s Pet Care Products, Brown is active in the community having served as Chairman of the Dallas United Way Corporate Gifts Division and on the Grand Prairie ISD School Board. He has been an active supporter of Texas Tech, having served on the Rawls College Advisory Council and the Texas Tech Foundation Board. Brown has been a member of the Alumni Association for 42 consecutive years since graduation.

Johnson is regional chairman of Texas Capital Bank, and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in finance/banking in 1968. After growing up on a ranch north of San Antonio, he came to Texas Tech, joined Phi Delta Theta fraternity and met his wife-to-be, Carolyn Case, who graduated with a bachelor’s in education. Johnson began his banking career at Texas Commerce Bank in Houston and in 1975, and moved to National Bancshares Corporation of Texas in San Antonio. In 1994 he joined Texas Bancshares Inc. and First National Bank of South Texas. In 2001 he moved to Texas Capital Bank and in 2009 was promoted to regional chairman. His community service includes the Alamo Area Council of Boy Scouts and the Texas Business Hall of Fame, along with many other civic contributions. Johnson was the 2010 recipient of San Antonio’s Movers & Shakers Award and is active on the Rawls College of Business Advisory Board.

Robert Taylor is CEO of United Supermarkets LLC, a native of Lubbock and graduate of Monterey High School. He earned a bachelor’s degree in management in 1971. Taylor joined United’s leadership team in 2007 as vice president of logistics when United purchased R.C. Taylor Distributing – a family owned and operated business since 1949 –where he served as president at the time of purchase. He is active in the Lubbock community, having served as president of Southwest Rotary Club, board chairman of the Salvation Army, and various campaign positions for Lubbock Area United Way. He is on the Board of Directors of PlainsCapital Corp., Texas Tech University Chancellor’s Advisory Board, Delta Tau Delta House Corp. Board, and is chairman of the City of Lubbock Downtown Redevelopment Board. Among his numerous awards are the Texas Wholesaler of the Year, Southwestern Community Service Award and the 2009 Texas Distributor of the Year.

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CONTACT: Susan Brown, alumni and public relations, Rawls College of Business, (806) 742-1571, or susan.brown@ttu.edu.